The Munros: mountain myths and milestones

07/19/24 • 32 min

Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature

How many have you bagged? Mountaineers and hikers from across the UK and beyond have flocked to Scotland to take on the Munros – Scottish peaks more than 3,000 feet high – ever since the list of such mountains was created by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891.

The National Trust for Scotland cares for 46 of these Munros, including Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers, Ben Macdui and Torridon’s Spidean a’Choire Léith. Jackie Bird sits down with Andrew Dempster, author of The Munros: A History, to trace the ever-increasing popularity of Munro bagging.

Who was the first to complete all 282 peaks? What new records continue to be set? And what is it about Hugh Munro’s list that has so significantly captured the public imagination?

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For more on the Trust’s Munros, click here.

The National Trust for Scotland cares for 275 miles of mountain paths across Scotland, including on Munros. Our Footpath Fund is a vital source of support for these landscapes. For more on the fund, and to help us protect Scotland’s footpaths, click here.

Who was the first to complete all 282 peaks? What new records continue to be set? And what is it about Hugh Munro’s list that has so significantly captured the public imagination?

To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

For more on the Trust’s Munros, click here.

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The real story of Whisky Galore

In 1941, cargo ship the SS Politician ran aground near Eriskay, an island in the Hebrides. On board? Some 22,000 cases of whisky. What followed has been immortalised on page and screen in Whisky Galore, a retelling of how local islanders made the most of the unexpected arrival of so much alcohol, and how the authorities tried to stop them.

But what really happened? Jackie Bird is joined by journalist Roger Hutchinson, author of Polly, The True Story Behind Whisky Galore, to discover the truth about SS Politician and its valuable cargo.

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For more information on Canna House collection, click here.

We would like to thank all those who have supported the Canna House project, including the restoration and reopening of the house.

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James VI: wise man or fool?

Recorded in Falkland Palace’s chapel royal, host Jackie Bird and her guest Steven Veerapen discuss the adult life and legacy of James VI of Scotland and I of England. During his reign, the king faced a host of challenges, from religious tensions to anti-Scottish sentiment in his London court, not to mention Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot.

Veerapen’s book, The Wisest Fool, challenges the varied perceptions of James as an ineffective or short-sighted monarch. What really motivated the first king to reign over Scotland, England and Ireland? How did his adult relationships – with men and women – influence his decision-making? And which is more accurate: was the king a wise man, or a fool?

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For more information on Falkland Palace, click here.